I Take It Personally!

Trying not to complain usually isn’t a difficult task for me. I like to heal a wound and move on to higher ground. Most of what people do and say I can manage to take with a grain of salt. The old adage of not taking something someone says to you personally is a practiced art form, but while I endeavor to follow the credo, I still have a degree of difficulty with it at certain times.

This week, an event occurred which I took personally, and will always feel the way I do about it.

While I have stated my feelings in past blogs, I must repeat a point or two as a reminder of the emotions I will never hide, I will always take personally, and will continue to wear on my sleeve.

As a boy of nineteen years of age, I found myself serving my country in the infantry of the United States Army. Frankly, at that attained age I had not yet felt my mortality, and therefore was not gripped with the extent of fear a great many men in my position were experiencing twenty-four/seven.

What I was experiencing and feeling as deeply as anything I had ever felt in my life was pride. I’ve said it before, and here I go again. My mom and dad came to this country as immigrants. Their love of the United States was displayed as unabashedly as any two parents could. That’s the kind of house I grew up in. It was a trait in them I strove to emulate. They would both be proud to know I have succeeded.

When the American flag was unfurled before us in preparation for our very first army parade, my emotions rose much higher than pitching a no-hitter for the first time in high school. I so totally took it personally. Harvey Kalmenson had been selected to defend his country: The United States of America. I think you might be getting my point. If not… I won’t be taking it personally.

Anyone visiting our place of business on Sparks St. in Burbank always knows when da harv is present and accounted for. I always place an American flag, as personal as it gets, on display up front for all to see. Da harv is in the building.

This week, my American flag was stolen. Whoever the culprit may be, I do not and will never wish them well.

Self-Direction - Part 2

Self-direct as opposed to self-destruct.

As always, the basic rules are so simple sounding. The problem for many actors is the lack of detail and observance of the basic rules.

1. Before studying your audition script, read and understand the directions. If the producer took the trouble to put their directions in writing, it behooves you as the talent to at least attempt to follow them.

2. Now read the script and understand its meaning. I’ve experienced situations first hand where an actor, after studying the script for a prolonged period of time, enters my recording booth and proceeds to tell me how they just can’t figure out what the writer means.

What immediately goes through this director’s mind are the questions of how and why were they even rehearsing something they didn’t understand?

3. Self-directing means telling yourself what to do. Imagine you have a list of directions which are right up your alley. I’m referring to directions, which are part of who you really happen to be as a human being. If your natural bent is city blue collar and the script calls for it, you have it made; supposedly. I say supposedly because you still require more input in order to properly deliver what the producer is asking for. You must ascertain the condition your character is in at the moment of truth; your truth.

I.e., if your blue-collar script allows that you have recently come into a great deal of money (like winning the lottery) and they ask you to portray a rather robust and gregarious person, you are armed with a reason for being in the condition they’re asking for in the given directions.

4. Proximity & Who Are You Talking To, And Why

Okay now Mr. Blue collar, robust, gregarious person; where are you in our scenario. This one is really important.

I.e., are you at a ballgame, and the crowd is pretty noisy?

What if you just put your son to bed, and all is serene? Or you're in your backyard exchanging thoughts with a neighbor?

What I’m reminding you of are the five W’s and an H.

“Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How.”

Almost every script will reveal your answers, in order for you to prepare properly for self-direction.

Whatever the road happens to be, dirt or a paved super highway, it could be your determining factor. Some roads are bumpy, others as smooth as silk. Each will provide direction if you choose to recognize it.

It was just before the audition. The actor stood there on the other side of the glass, facing me. I remember the actor apologetically telling me how he just couldn’t get a handle on what in the name of hell they wanted him to do. He went on to tell me how confused he was, and how he felt like a confused dolt. “You’ve got it now,” I replied without hesitation. His look was priceless. His mouth opened in disbelief as he desperately pointed out his problem with the decision making process. I immediately said to him, “Hold on to that look, and what you’re feeling at this very instant. Just slate your name and do it.” He went through the script and then said, “That was marvelous.” “That was Stanislavski,” I allowed.

The contentious script called for a man of his general age range to be standing in a market in front of an endless line of products, and doing stream of consciousness showing concern over his inability to understand what his wife wanted him to purchase. He nailed it by bringing truth to the present moment at hand. Some might even refer to it as acting. Perceiving and telling your truth to another or to yourself; that’s what Stanislavski labeled it, and that’s what we wholeheartedly teach.

Self Direction - Part 1

Home recording studios no longer represent the rich man's toy. Nor are they just products of the Los Angeles marketplace. The home recording studio has arrived, and continues to grow. Shrinking hardware and software prices have made the home studio economically within reach of the journeyman voice over talent.

Today, more and more voice over actors have home recording studios. For many, what used to be a small clothes closet has become their personal professional studio.

I call these actors “The Pajama Performers.” They don’t have to dress for work. They don’t worry about deodorant, if they need to put gas in the car, or how long it will take them to drive across town to an agent’s office for the audition. All they need concern themselves with is reading the script, analyzing its content and self directing.

The process has built-in pluses and minuses. The pluses are obvious. Saving gasoline dollars by itself is probably a good enough reason to build your own studio. And for those who relish staying at home and mysteriously putting on some extra pounds, that too may be the necessary grist for a self-confined existence.

The problem for many of us is the very distinct inability to self-direct. Some actors absolutely love the sound of their voice. For them, the audition can become an adventure in self-aggrandizement, brought on and stimulated by the sheer love of anything they do.

On the other hand, there are a very large group of people like me, who always feel they can do better. The thought of self-direction actually makes me uncomfortable, especially the prospect of listening back to my own voice and making an honest appraisal. Frankly, I hate doing it. Perhaps I’m overpowered by the genuine importance of each audition.

Without exception, professional journeyman actors who can honestly say they earn a living doing voice over will agree with the importance of being given the opportunity to audition for a job. Never ever use the word “just,” when describing the content of your audition. Only the inexperienced loser may refer to their pending audition as “just another audition.” The word “just” must never creep into your voice over vernacular if you have any intention of sustaining yourself within our trade.

The highest percentage of what you will be attempting in your home recording studio will be the audition.

In my not so humble opinion, beginners shouldn’t contemplate building a home studio unless they are being counseled by an experienced and trustworthy industry professional. Never shop the yellow pages when searching for what could be one of the most important adventures of your life. Word of mouth is the only acceptable input. Anyone can have his or her claims printed. Word of mouth substantiates an individual’s, or a company’s expertise, and reliability.

When it involves your future and your family’s welfare, be with those people who are recommended by the working professionals you might wish to emulate. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Agents and journeymen actors are the very best source for recommendations.

But if you must self direct, here’s a tip from da harv:

To be continued next edition...